HIV/AIDS, THE HUNTER OF THE FUTURE.

HIV/AIDS, THE HUNTER OF THE FUTURE.

HIV/AIDS has remained a threat to human existence and major global health challenge with estimated 36.7 million people living with the virus and about 1.1 million death from AIDS related illnesses at the end of 2016.

Between 1981 and 2015 , a cumulative death of 39million people resulting from AIDS related illnesses and cumulative estimate of 78 million people living with HIV world wide (WHO , 2014).  Thus , the sub Saharan African accounts for the two-thirds of the global HIV infection rate.

Although the first case of AIDS in Nigeria was reported in 1986, the epidemic has now reached an alarming proportion . Various report reveled a trajectory prevalence rate of HIV infection in Nigeria across the years . the HIV prevalence among adults in the country increased from 1.8% in 1991 to 4.5% in 1996 and 5.5% in 2001. It drooped slightly to 5% in 2003 and 4.4% in 2005 but reported rise again in 2007 to 4.6% (odebode & shobiyi, 2009) .

As of 2014 , Nigeria is the 2nd largest number of people living with HIV among the 13 worst affected countries of the world . Nigeria with 3.4 million people living with HIV came after south Africa with 6.8million people (CIA, 2016) .

People between ages of 15-24 account for approximately half of all new HIV/AIDS infection worldwide and the number is on the increase daily . Young people are at the centre of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. Today's youth have inherited a lethal legacy that is killing them and their friends, their brothers and ,sisters , parent and their role model.

YOUNG PEOPLE AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

Young people are center of the HIV/AIDS epidemic because of their sexual behaviour. Their sexual behaviours, the extent to which their right are protected, and the services and information they receive determine the quality of their life. Young people particularly susceptible to HIV infection and AIDS is shattering young people's opportunities for healthy adult lives. Nevertheless , it is the young people who offer the greatest hope for changing the course of the epidemic. Young people are sexually active . sexual activity begins in adolescence for most young people. During the adolescence period , the adolescent becomes sexually mature and the risk of becoming sexually active . many unmarried girls and boys are sexually active before the age of 15. (Recent survey of boys aged to 15 - 19 in Brazil , Nigerian and Kenya for example ). Some adolescents become sexually active , without the benefit of necessary information, skills and service to protect them from HIV. Sexual relation among young people are often unplanned and sometimes forced.

HIV/AIDS and Adolescent Girls .

Adolescent girls are at very high risk of getting infected with the HIV virus. This pattern is especially clear in sub-sahara Africa, the region most severely affected by the virus. More than two-thirds of newly infected 15 to 19 years old in this region is female. In Ethiopia , Malawi , United Republic of Tanzania , Zambia and Zimbabwe, for every 15 - 19 year old who is infected , there are 5 to 6 girls infected in that age group. In African, about 55 per cent of people who are infected are females. Female cases of HIV/AIDS are increasing . Among teenagers , females are more likely to be infected than males . in the Kenyan city of kismu , for example , the rate of the infection among 15 to 19 was 23 percent in female and 3.5 percent in males .
The increasing likelihood that AIDS will kill more women than men has some very disturbing implications. At an international AIDS conference held in Barcelona, Spain in by 2002, the United Nation special envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa , Stephen Lewis noted in a press conference that the AIDS pandemic has become a war on woman . AIDS has become the ultimate symbol of gender inequality.
The high rate of infection of HIV/AIDS among women is probably due to the fact that woman are physiologically more susceptible to contracting the virus through vaginal intercourse. Men are eight times more likely to transmit HIV to women to men. This is because the tissue of vagina are thin and break more easily in younger women. A UNICEF survey report revealed that in Lesotho , the percentage of young women with HIV and AIDS was 51%, while the rate young men 23%. In Botswana, young women were 45% and men 19%. In South Africa , it is 31% to 13% while in Swaziland; it is 47% to 18% and Zambia it is 25% to 10%.

Some risky factors contributing to vulnerability of young people for contracting HIV

Here are some reason why young people in Sub-Sahara are getting infected and dying everyday :

1. High rate of unemployment
2. Poverty
3. Dangerous myth that having sex with virgin will cure HIV
4. Early marriage
5. Negative peer influence
6. Early sexual experience
7. Involving in drug abuse
8. Being a victim of sex violence (Rape)
9. Receiving unscreened blood
10. Having sex with many partners without protection .

PREVENTIONS

Young people must be encouraged to delay or avoid unsafe sexual activity. When they become sexually  active , they must be encouraged to curtail their sexual activities and also be equipped with the tools to practise safe sex. They must be encouraged to adopt the ABC approach :

A - abstain from sex / delay the first sexual experience until marriage .
B - be faithful to one partner
C - consistence and proper use of latex condoms.

Apart from these approach , young people still needs accurate information. New studies from across the globe have established that the vast majority of young people have no idea of how HIV/AIDS is transmitted or how to protect themselves from the diseases. So there's need to provide adequate education to young people on :
. Widespread misconception about HIV/AIDS
. The importance of delaying sexual activities
. How those that ate sexually active should protect themselves .

SYMPTOMS of HIV/AIDS

The following are some of the major symptoms that may indicate that an individual as being infected with the HIV virus.

. Weight loss greater than 10% of the body weight
. Fever for longer than one month
. persistence severe tiredness
. Cough for than one month
. Swollen glands in two or more places
. Diarrhoea

Mode of transmission of AIDS 

AIDS has no barrier are regards religion , sex , age , ethnic origin , nationality , profession or status. HIV can therefore be contacted through :

. Penetrative sexual contact ( Vaginal , Oral or Anal )with an infected person .
. Blood transfusion with contaminated and infected blood and blood product e.g (serum).
. Sharing or using unsterilized infected skin piercing instrument such as needles , knives , blades syringes .
. Infected mother to baby before, during or after childbirth , unless precautions is taken , as available in hospital.

The effect of the disease on the socio-economy of the society is as follow :

1. HIV/AIDS and life expectancy 

Due to the high mortality from AIDS , population in some of thus region country will begin to shrink within the next few years. Nigeria life expectancy dropped from 53.8 years for women and 52.6 year for men in 1991 to 46 for women and 47 for men in 2007( UNAIDS, 2008).

2. HIV/AIDS and child Mortality

Child mortality is rising , there were 2. 6 million children living with HIV around the world at the end of 2015 - the majority in Africa ,where AIDS remains the leading cause of the death among adolescents. Decades of increasing child survival are being lost to AIDS. In Zambia and Zimbabwe , 25 percent more infants already dying than would be the case without HIV.

3. HIV/AIDS and productivity

Adolescents and young people are predominantly affected by the HIV/AIDS scourge. The diseases strikes them mainly at their prime and most productive years. Since they constitute about 60% to 70% of Nigerian population , they make up the greatest percentage of the workforce. The high prevalence of HIV/AIDS among young people therefore profoundly disrupts the economy which will in turn affect the labour supply and national productivity.

4. HIV/AIDS and Orphans

With the fast growing of AIDS , children are been Orphaned . during the HIV epidemic, an estimated 17million children lost one or both parents due to AIDS. 90 percent of thses children lives in Sub- Sahara African .

5. HIV/ AIDS and National Income 

National income is affected . the illness and impending death of up to 25 percent of all adult in some countries I'll have enormous impacts on national productivity and earnings. Labour productivity is likely to drop, the benefits of education lost and resources that would have been used for investment will be used for health care, orphan care and funerals. Saving rates will decline and the loss of human capital will affect production and the quality years.

6. Stigmatisation

One of the major problem associated with HIV and AIDS in the society is stigmatisation and how to address the phenomenon . stigmatisation is very discrediting social level that negatively affect the ways individual view themselves and ways others view them. Stigmatisation has damaging effect on the mental wellbeing of people living with HIV/AIDS as it breaks down in them the confidence to seek help on medical , social , financial, employment and educational aspects .

Protective Factors 

These are some protective factors that has been unidentified from different different studies across Africa. These protective factors have been found to help to reduce high risk behaviour such as engaging in unprotected sex.  These factors includes :
. Positive relationship with parents, teachers , and other member of the community.
. Feeling valued and accepted.
. Positive school environment
. Having spiritual belief
. A sense of hope for the future ..

Written by : ADENIYI ISHOLA